NTDC have undertaken a review of the region’s current population strategy. The key driver for this review was to help inform the approach of a new future focused population plan for Northern Tasmania.

Stage 1 of the project, a review of the 2019 Population Taskforce Strategy for Northern Tasmania, is now complete

As part of Stage 1 and to coincide with the release of the State’s new population policy framework in July 2024, NTDC engaged Tasmania Policy Exchange, UTAS to prepare a discussion paper on the region’s population challenges and opportunities. The discussion paper released in September 2024 was designed as a pre-reading evidence base ahead of a population forum which was held in October 2024.

The population forum was attended by leaders from across the region and included representatives from state and local government, industry and community who came together to workshop and discuss initiatives to address actions in response to four prescribed strategic priority areas:

1.      Retention of international migrants.

2.      The geographical distribution of structural ageing

3.      Infrastructure and service provision for young families.

4.      The impacts of population churn.

Click  here for the Population Change in Northern Tasmania: Insights and Opportunities Discussion paper which includes population forum findings.

The next stage is to create a program of work over 3, 5 and 10 year horizons that if enabled collaboratively over time by key regional partners will result in positive change in terms of population trends. Further information to follow in early 2025.

For more information, please feel free to contact Fiona Turney, Project Coordinator on Fiona@ntdc.org.au